What's Out?

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Dangerous and dirty are out. There are lots of things we can recycle but there are also items that could be dangerous to workers, get stuck in machinery and that can spoil the quality of recyclables we collect. Many of these items are still recyclable but have to be handled differently. They are often accepted at our recycling stations or at the Waste and Recycling Centre (Landfill). Learn more about common contamination and the results of phase 1 here.

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Glass needs to be collected separately for several reasons, these include: possible equipment damage, staff safety & the contamination of other materials (reducing their value). Many glass containers can be returned to the bottle depot for a refund. All other glass will continue to be accepted at the recycling stations.
When planning the curbside program, we asked other communities and industry experts if we should include glass and were told many times that it would not be recommended. The trend across North America is to remove glass from curbside collection.

These can get tangled in the sorting equipment and cause damage to the machinery.
Plastic bags can be recycled at our recycling stations and are accepted at some retailers. You can reduce your use of plastic bags by bringing reusable bags with you and reusing plastic bags for things like garbage or pet waste. For more information on plastic and film recycling visit www.plasticfilmrecycling.org.

Paper drink cups may seem like something we can easily recycle but they often have a wax or plastic coating on the inside. This keeps the drink warm and prevents the cardboard from becoming soggy but it also makes the cup non-recyclable.

Styrofoam is not recyclable in any residential recycling programs in Lethbridge at this time - even if it has a recycling symbol. Styrofoam is light in weight and bulky in volume therefore the cost and environmental impact of transport outweighs the benefits of recycling. Please place it in your black cart.

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Why are there so many rules around what can and can’t go in blue carts?

<div class="ExternalClassB5DEBF9D3D484A0089B0AEB1003B5C0D"><div>It might feel like there are a lot of rules but a big part of a successful curbside recycling program is quality control. We need to make sure we’re collecting clean, high-quality materials that will have the most environmental benefit, can be safely processed and that have value in the marketplace. Weighing these factors and talking with other communities, we’ve created a list of what’s in and what’s out so we can make a positive impact with our program. <br></div></div>

Why isn't glass allowed in my blue cart?

<div class="ExternalClassBEFC37C646464E1D87E9FFF2C296EA86"><div><div>Glass needs to be collected separately for several reasons, these include: possible equipment damage, staff safety & the contamination of other materials (reducing their value). Many glass containers can be returned to the bottle depot for a refund. This includes wine and beer bottles. All other glass will continue to be accepted at the recycling stations. <br></div><div><br></div><div><div>When planning the curbside program, we asked other communities and industry experts if we should include glass and were told many times that it would not be recommended. The trend across North America is to remove glass from curbside collection.<br><br></div></div></div></div>

Why aren't plastic bags allowed in my blue cart?

<div class="ExternalClassD5EDEDDFC5E44C7DA43FADBCB6F9E63F"><div><div>Plastic bags and items like plastic wrap, string and rope can get tangled in the sorting equipment and cause damage to the machinery. It is common practice in other municipalities to not include plastic bags in the curbside pickup but residents can still take their bags to the recycling stations. Plastic bags may also be accepted at some local retailers. Visit https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/ for more information.<br></div></div></div>

What if I don’t follow the rules?

<div class="ExternalClassF09201C54A864C2DA6E19A19422A726E"><p>​If you happen to put something in your blue cart that should have been left out, our drivers will leave you an "oops tag" this will give you information on what you did wrong. On the following pick-up date, your driver will check your bin. If there is still material that is not accepted, the bin will not be picked up that week. <br></p></div>